Structures and methods for enhancing erase uniformity in an NROM array

ABSTRACT

A virtual ground NROM array has a matrix of NROM cells in which during an erase operation the non-erasing side of NROM cells are connected to a common node for enhancing the erase uniformity of the NROM array. If an operation requests erasing on the left side of NROM cells, a positive voltage is supplied from an internal power supply to the left side for each of the NROM cells, and the right side for each of the NROM cells is discharged to a common node. If an operation requests erasing the right side of NROM cells, a positive voltage is supplied from the internal power supply to the right side for each of the NROM cells, and the right side for each of the NROM cells is connected to the common node. The voltage level of the common mode is selected to be sufficiently high in order to prevent from punch through while at the same time sufficiently low to maintain the lateral electric field for erase operation to function optimally. In an alternative embodiment, non-erasing sides of NROM cells in the NROM array are connected to a current source during an erase operation for enhancing the erase uniformity of the NROM array. If an operation requests erasing the left side of NROM cells, a positive voltage is supplied from an internal power supply to the left side for each of the NROM cells, and the right side for each of the NROM cells is discharged to a current source. If an operation requests erasing the right side of NROM cells, a positive voltage is supplied from the internal power supply to the right side for each of the NROM cells, and the right side for each of the NROM cells is connected to the current source.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to non-volatile memory devices, and in particular to improve erase uniformity of flash Nitride Read-Only Memory (NROM) cells.

2. Description of Related Art

Electrically programmable and erasable non-volatile memory technologies based on charge storage structures known as Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) and flash memory are used in a variety of modern applications. A flash memory is designed with an array of memory cells that can be independently programmed and read. Sense amplifiers in a flash memory are used to determine the data value or values stored in a non-volatile memory. In a typical sensing scheme, an electrical current through the memory cell being sensed is compared to a reference current by a current sense amplifier.

A number of memory cell structures are used for EEPROM and flash memory. As the dimensions of integrated circuits shrink, greater interest is arising for memory cell structures based on charge trapping dielectric layers, because of the scalability and simplicity of the manufacturing processes. Memory cell structures based on charge trapping dielectric layers include structures known by the industry names Nitride Read-Only Memory (NROM), SONOS, and PHINES, for example. These memory cell structures store data by trapping charge in a charge trapping dielectric layer, such as silicon nitride. As negative charge is trapped, the threshold voltage of the memory cell increases. The threshold voltage of the memory cell is reduced by removing negative charge from the charge trapping layer.

NROM devices use a relatively thick bottom oxide, e.g. greater than 3 nanometers, and typically about 5 to 9 nanometers, to prevent charge loss. Instead of direct tunneling, band-to-band tunneling induced hot hole injection BTBTHH can be used to erase the cell. However, the hot hole injection causes oxide damage, leading to charge loss in the high threshold cell and charge gain in the low threshold cell. Moreover, the erase time must be increased gradually during program and erase cycling due to the hard-to-erase accumulation of charge in the charge trapping structure. This accumulation of charge occurs because the hole injection point and electron injection point do not coincide with each other, and some electrons remain after the erase pulse. In addition, during the sector erase of an NROM flash memory device, the erase speed for each cell is different because of process variations (such as channel length variation). This difference in erase speed results in a large Vt distribution of the erase state, where some of the cells become hard to erase and some of them are over-erased. Thus the target threshold Vt window is closed after many program and erase cycles and poor endurance is observed. This phenomenon will become more serious when the technology keeps scaling down.

A typical flash memory cell structure positions a tunnel oxide layer between a conducting polysilicon tunnel oxide layer and a crystalline silicon semiconductor substrate. The substrate refers to a source region and a drain region separated by an underlying channel region. A flash memory read can be executed by a drain sensing or a source sensing. For source side sensing, one or more source lines are coupled to source regions of memory cells for reading current from a particular memory cell in a memory array.

A traditional floating gate device stores 1 bit of charge in a conductive floating gate. The advent of NROM cells in which each NROM cell provides 2 bits of flash cells that store charge in an Oxide-Nitride-Oxide (ONO) dielectric. In a typical structure of a NROM memory cell, a nitride layer is used as a trapping material positioned between a top oxide layer and a bottom oxide layer. The ONO layer structure effectively replaces the gate dielectric in floating gate devices. The charge in the ONO dielectric with a nitrite layer may be either trapped on the left side or the right side 103 of a NROM cell.

A circuit diagram in FIG. 2 illustrates one conventional memory cell structure of a NROM 100 with a single side erase in which the non-erasing side is left floating. The band-to-band hot hole injection is used to conduct a single side erase to the NROM cell 100. The NROM cell 100 comprises three nodes or terminals, a first node 101, a second node 102, and a third node 103. The first node 101 refers to a gate terminal. Because the NROM 100 operates with a virtual ground, the second node 102 could function either as a source node or a drain while the third node 103 could function either as a drain node or a source node. During an erase operation to the node 102, which refers to the left side of the NROM cell 100, the node 101 is connected to a negative voltage supplied by a negative pump circuit, the node 102 is connected to a positive voltage supplied by a positive pump circuit, and the node 103 is left floating. The node 103 in the NROM cell 100 may be coupled to a voltage level that is uncertain, e.g. 1 volt or 4 volts, which could cause a variation in the erase of memory cells in a memory array. A similar type of concern exists when erasing the node 103. During an erase operation of the node 103, the node 101 is connected to a negative voltage supplied by a negative pump circuit, the node 102 is left floating, and the node 103 is connected to a positive voltage supplied by a positive pump circuit. In this instance, the node 102 in the NROM cell 100 may be coupled to a voltage level that is uncertain, e.g. 1 volt or 4 volts, which could cause a variation in the erase of memory cells in a memory array.

In FIG. 2, there is shown a circuit diagram illustrating another conventional memory cell structure of a NROM cell 200 with a single side erase in which the non-erasing side is connected to ground. The NROM cell 200 comprises three nodes, a first node 201, a second node 202, and a third node 203. During an erase operation to the node 202, the node 201 is connected to a negative voltage supplied by a negative pump circuit, the node 202 is connected to a positive voltage supplied by a positive pump circuit, and the node 203 is connected ground. The risk in this configuration is that if the voltage level on the node 202 exceeds the punch-through voltage of the NROM cell 200, a positive pump circuit may crash, which leads to the erase function to fail. A similar type or problem exists when erasing the node 203. During an erase operation to the node 203, the node 201 is connected to a negative voltage supplied by a negative pump circuit, the node 202 is connected to ground, and the node 203 is connected to a positive voltage supplied by a positive pump circuit. A punch-through scenario could occur if the node 203 exceeds the punch-through voltage of the NROM cell 200. The positive pump circuit may crash, which leads to the erase function to fail.

A frequently used technique to program NROM cells in an NROM array is the hot hole electron injection method. During a erase operation, a common technique used to erase memory cells is called the band-to-band hot hole injection where the erase ability is highly dependent on the lateral electric field. The other side potential, from the side that is being erased, of a NROM cell is likely to have a lateral electric field effect on the erase ability. Evaluating the endurance and retention of a NROM array, the lack of uniformity in erase ability causes a margin loss due to cycling and baking. The other side of NROM cells are left floating (or connected to ground) which may be coupled to an uncertain voltage level (e.g. 1 volt or 4 volts), which causes an variation of the erase threshold of array cells. This in turn causes Vt distribution after an erase operation to be wider. The variation of uncertain voltage level may result in over-erasing. On the other hand, if the other side is connected to ground, a punch-through may cause the pump circuit to crash when the bit line bias is over the punch-through voltage. Consequently, during an erase operation of a block, the NROM cells where some of the nodes are left floating may cause lack of uniformity in voltage level applied for erase the NROM cells in a NROM array.

Therefore, there is a need to design a NROM array that enhances the erase uniformity of single-side erase among NROM cells in an NROM array.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A virtual ground NROM array has a matrix of NROM cells in which during an erase operation the non-erasing side of NROM cells are connected to a common node for enhancing the erase uniformity of the NROM array. If an operation requests erasing on the left side of NROM cells, a positive voltage is supplied from an internal power supply to the left side for each of the NROM cells, and the right side for each of the NROM cells is discharged to a common node. If an operation requests erasing the right side of NROM cells, a positive voltage is supplied from the internal power supply to the right side for each of the NROM cells, and the right side for each of the NROM cells is connected to the common node. The voltage level of the common mode is selected to be sufficiently high in order to prevent from punch through while at the same time sufficiently low to maintain the lateral electric field for erase operation to function optimally.

In an alternative embodiment, non-erasing sides of NROM cells in the NROM array are connected to a current source during an erase operation for enhancing the erase uniformity of the NROM array. If an operation requests erasing the left side of NROM cells, a positive voltage is supplied from an internal power supply to the left side for each of the NROM cells, and the right side for each of the NROM cells is discharged to a current source. If an operation requests erasing the right side of NROM cells, a positive voltage is supplied from the internal power supply to the right side for each of the NROM cells, and the right side for each of the NROM cells is connected to the current source.

Broadly stated, a non-volatile memory structure, comprises a memory array having a plurality of NROM cells in an x by y matrix, a first column of the memory array having a first NROM cell and a second NROM cell, each NROM cell having a first node, a second node, and a third node; a first metal bit line connecting to a second node of the first NROM and connecting to a second node of the second NROM; and a second metal bit line connecting to a third node of the first NROM and connecting to a third node of the second NROM.

Advantageously, the present invention enhances the erase uniformity of NROM cells in the NROM array, as well as improving the endurance and retention of NROM cells. The present invention also avoids a pump circuit from crashing due to the occurrence of punch through by selecting a voltage that is sufficiently high yet the voltage is sufficiently low to maintain the lateral electric field for erase ability.

The structures and methods regarding to the present invention are disclosed in the detailed description below. This summary does not purport to define the invention. The invention is defined by the claims. These and other embodiments, features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating one conventional memory cell structure of a NROM with a single side erase in which the non-erasing side is left floating.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating another conventional memory cell structure of a NROM cell with a single side erase in which the non-erasing side is connected to ground.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a memory cell structure in a NROM cell having a node that is connected to a common node during a single side erasing operation in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a memory cell structure in a NROM cell having a node that is connected to a current source during a single side erasing operation in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a simplified circuit diagram illustrating a virtual ground array with an NROM array that is coupled to a discharge system for enhancing erase uniformity in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a simplified circuit diagram illustrating a discharge system for discharging even metal bit lines and odd metal bit lines in the NROM array in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the functional process in conducting a single side erase of NROM cells in the NROM array described with respect to the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary implementation of a discharge system in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a circuit diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a memory cell structure in a NROM cell 300 having a node that is connected to a common node during a single side erasing operation. The NROM cell structure 300 having a first node 301, a second node 302 and a third node 303. During a single side erase operation of the second node 302, the first node 301 is connected to a negative pump circuit, the node 302 is connected to a positive pump circuit, and a third node is connected to a common node. During a single side erase operation of the third node 303, the first node 301 is connected to a negative pump circuit, the node 302 is connected to a common node, and a third node is connected to a positive voltage. The voltage level of the common node will be selected to be sufficiently high to prevent punch through from occurring while selected to be sufficiently low to maintain the lateral electric field for erase ability.

In FIG. 4, there is a circuit diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a memory cell structure in a NROM cell having a node that is connected to a current source during a single side erasing operation. The NROM cell structure 400 having a first node 401, a second node 402, and a third node 403. During a single side erase operation of the node 402, the node 401 is connected to a negative pump circuit, the node 402 is connected to a positive pump circuit, and the node 403 is connected to a current-limit source. During a single side erase operation of the node 403, the node 401 is connected to a negative pump circuit, the node 402 is connected to a current-limit source, and the node 403 is connected to a positive pump circuit. The current level of the current-limit source is selected to be some ratio of erase current consumption. Therefore, the voltage level of the node 403 is dynamic and related to the voltage level of the node 402. For example, if the bit line stepping is applied for an erase operation, the node 403 is adjusted.

Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown a simplified circuit diagram illustrating a virtual ground array 500 with an NROM array 530 that is coupled to a discharge system 560 for enhancing erase uniformity. The NROM array 530 comprises a plurality of columns and rows of NROM cells which include a NROM cell 540, a NROM cell 541, a NROM cell 542, a NROM cell 543, a NROM cell 545, a NROM cell 546, a NROM 547, a NROM cell 548, a NROM cell 550, a NROM cell 551, a NROM cell 552, a NROM cell 553, a NROM cell 555, a NROM cell 556, a NROM cell 557 and a NROM cell 558. The discharge system 560 includes a plurality of MOS transistors for discharging each metal bit line to either a common node or a current source. It is a circuit designer's choice whether to discharge each metal bit line to a common node as shown in FIG. 3 or to discharge each metal bit line to a current source as shown in FIG. 4. A Y-decoder 580 decodes which metal bit line (or which column) in the y direction will be decoded and accessed among metal bit lines MBL0 520, MBL1 521 MBL2 522, . . . MBLn−2 523, MBLn−1 524 or MBLn 525. A X-decoder 570 decodes which wordline (or which row) in the x direction will be decoded and accessed among metal bit lines. 530, 531, . . . 532 or 533. A user supplies the addressing of the (x, y) location of a particular NROM cell for programming or erasing of that NROM cell. During an erase operation, which requires a positive voltage, an internal power supply 590 supplies power to the Y-decoder 580 for erasing a particular NROM cell.

As shown in FIG. 6, there is a simplified circuit diagram illustrating a discharge system 560 for discharging even metal bit lines and odd even bit lines in the NROM array 500. During either a conventional program operation or a conventional erase operation, circuits 610 and 620 would typically be both connected to ground. An objective of a conventional erase operation is to discharge a NROM cell to ground. The circuit 610 or the circuit 620 will be turned on for discharging odd metal bit lines or even metal bit lines depending on whether the left side or the right side of NROM cells need to be discharged. The circuits 610 and 620 operate both as a common node in the first embodiment, or operate both as a current source in the second embodiment. The discharge system 560 comprises a set of even numbered MOS transistors 630, 632, 633, and 635 that are coupled to the circuit 610 and a set of odd numbered MOS transistors 631, and 634 that are couples to the circuit 620. Correspondingly, the even numbered MOS transistors are connected to the even numbered metal bit lines, while the odd numbered MOS transistors are connected to the odd numbered metal bit lines, i.e., the MOS transistor 630 is connected to the metal bit line MBLO 520, the MOS transistor 632 is connected to the metal bit line MBL2 522, the MOS transistor 633 is connected to the metal bit line MBLn−2 523, the MOS transistor 635 is connected to the metal bit line MBLn 525, the MOS transistor 631 is connected to the metal bit line MBL 1 521, the MOS transistor 634 is connected to the metal bit line MBLn−1 523. Symbols DISCHO 640, DISCH1 641, DISCH2 642, DISCHn−2 643, DISCHn−1 644, and DISCHn 645 represent the control signals during erase operation in order to connect the non-erasing side to a common node. The control signal DISCHO 640 is connected to the MOS transistor 630 that serves as a pass gate to a common node turn on the metal bit line MBLO 520. The control signal DISCH1 641 is connected to the MOS transistor 631 that serves as a pass gate to the common node turn on the metal bit line MBL1 521. The control signal DISCH2 642 is connected to the MOS transistor 632 that serves as a pass gate to the common node turn on the metal bit line MBLO 522. The control signal DISCH2 643 is connected to the MOS transistor 633 that serves as a pass gate to the common node turn on the metal bit line MBLO 523. The control signal DISCH2 644 is connected to the MOS transistor 634 that serves as a pass gate to the common node turn on the metal bit line MBLO 524. The control signal DISCH2 645 is connected to the MOS transistor 635 that serves as a pass gate to the common node turn on the metal bit line MBLO 525.

In the first embodiment where the discharge system 560 discharges to the common node, when an operation makes a request to erase the left side of the NROM cells, the positive voltage is supplied from the internal power supply 590 through the Y-decoder 580 to the left side of the NROM cells, while the right side of the NROM cells that include even metal bit lines, MBL0 520, MBL2 522, MBLn−2 523, and MBLn 525, are discharged to the common node 620. If an operation makes a request to erase the right side of the NROM cells, the positive voltage is supplied from the internal power supply 590 through the Y-decoder 580 to the right side of the NROM cells, while the left side of the NROM cells that includes odd metal bit lines, MBL1 521, MBLn−1 524, are connected to the common node 610. The discharge system 560 is discharged to ground during programming.

In the second embodiment where the discharge system 560 discharges to a current source, when an operation makes a request to erase the left side of the NROM cells, the positive voltage is supplied from the internal power supply 590 through the Y-decoder 580 to the left side of the NROM cells, while the right side of the NROM cells that include even metal bit lines, MBL0 520, MBL2 522, MBLn−2 523, and MBLn 525, are discharged to the current source 620. If an operation makes a request to erase the right side of the NROM cells, the positive voltage is supplied from the internal power supply 590 through the Y-decoder 580 to the right side of NROM cells, while the left side of NROM cells that include odd metal bit lines, MBL1 521, MBLn-1 524, are connected to the current source 610. The 560 discharge system is discharged to ground during programming.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the functional process 700 in conducting a single side erase of NROM cells in the NROM array described with respect to the first embodiment of the invention. At step 710, the process 700 determines the scope of erase, which a user may specify as a sector (or block) erase or erase all memory cells in the NROM array 530. The process at step 720 determines whether the left nodes or the right nodes in the NROM cells 540–543, 545–548, 550–553, and 555–558 are to be erased. On the one hand, if the left nodes are to be erased, the process 700 at step 730 erases0 the left nodes of NROM cells by supplying a positive voltage from the internal power supply 590 to even metal bit lines MBLO 520, MBL2 521, MBLn−2 523 and MBLn 525. At step 732, the process 700 discharges the odd metal bit lines MBL1 521 and MBLn−1 524 to a common node or a current source. On the other hand, if the right nodes are to be erased, the process 700 at step 740 erases the right nodes of NROM cells by supplying a positive voltage from the internal power supply 590 to odd metal bit lines MBLO MBL1 521 and MBLn−1 524. At step 742, the process 700 discharges the even metal bit lines MBLO 520, MBL2 521, MBLn−2 523 and MBLn 525 to a common node or a current source.

A schematic diagram in FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary common node implementation of the discharge system 560. The discharge system 560 in this embodiment has sixteen MOS transistors, N0–N15. Each of the even MOS transistors N0, N2, N4, N6, N8, N10, N12, N14 is connected to a respective even metal bit line coupled to a NROM array. Each of the odd MOS transistors, N1, N3, N5, N7, N9, N11, N13, and N15 is connected to a respective odd metal bit line coupled to the NROM array. A signal name COMSUACEB represents a connection to a common node.

The invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. Various modifications, adaptations, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the present invention describes enhancing erase uniformity with single side erase of a node in a NROM cell by connecting the non-erase side to a common node or a current-limit source, one of ordinary skill in the art should recognize that other types of connections or variations for achieving erase uniformity can be practiced without departing from the spirits of the present invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative of the principles of this invention rather than restrictive, the invention is defined by the following appended claims. 

1. A non-volatile memory structure, comprising: a NROM memory array having a plurality of NROM cells organized by rows and columns, a first column of NROM cells having a first NROM cell and a second NROM cell, the first NROM cell having a first node, a second node and a third node, the second NROM cell having a first node, a second node and a third node; a first metal bit line connecting to the second node of the first NROM cell and the second node of the second NROM cell; and a second metal bit line connecting to a third node of the first NROM cell and the third node of the second NROM cell; wherein during an erase operation of the second node, the second node of the first NROM cell and the second node of the second NROM are connected a positive voltage, the third node of the first NROM cell and the third node of the second NROM cell are connected to a common node; and wherein during an erase operation of the third node, the second node of the first NROM cell and the second node of the second NROM are connected the common node, the third node of the first NROM cell and the third node of the second NROM cell are connected to the positive voltage.
 2. The memory structure of claim 1 wherein the common node has a voltage level that is sufficiently high to prevent punch-through yet sufficiently low to maintain a lateral electrical field for erase operation.
 3. The memory structure of claim 1 further comprising a discharge system that couples to the NROM memory array for discharging to the common node.
 4. The memory structure of claim 3 further comprising a first wordline voltage connecting to the first node of the first NROM cell.
 5. The memory structure of claim 4 further comprising a second wordline voltage connecting to the first node of the second NROM cell.
 6. The memory structure of claim 5 further comprising an x-decoder for decoding a plurality of metal bit lines that couple to the plurality of NROM cells.
 7. The memory structure of claim 6 further comprising a y-decoder for decoding the plurality of metal bit lines that couple to the plurality of NROM cells.
 8. The memory structure of claim 7 further comprising a power supply that couples to the y-decoder for supplying a voltage to the plurality of metal bit lines.
 9. A non-volatile memory structure, comprising: a NROM memory array having a plurality of NROM cells organized by rows and columns, a first column of NROM cells having a first NROM cell and a second NROM cell, the first NROM cell having a first node, a second node and a third node, the second NROM cell having a first node, a second node and a third node; a first metal bit line connecting to the second node of the first NROM cell and the second node of the second NROM cell; and a second metal bit line connecting to a third node of the first NROM cell and the third node of the second NROM cell; wherein during an erase operation of the second node, the second node of the first NROM cell and the second node of the second NROM are connected a positive voltage, the third node of the first NROM cell and the third node of the second NROM cell are connected to a current source; and wherein during an erase operation of the third node, the second node of the first NROM cell and the second node of the second NROM are connected the current source, the third node of the first NROM cell and the third node of the second NROM cell are connected to the positive voltage.
 10. The memory structure of claim 9 further comprising a discharge system that couples to the NROM memory array for discharging to the common node.
 11. The memory structure of claim 10 further comprising a first wordline voltage connecting to the first node of the first NROM cell.
 12. The memory structure of claim 11 further comprising a second wordline voltage connecting to the first node of the second NROM cell.
 13. The memory structure of claim 12 further comprising an x-decoder for decoding a plurality of metal bit lines that couple to the plurality of NROM cells.
 14. The memory structure of claim 13 further comprising a y-decoder for decoding a plurality of metal bit lines that couple to the plurality of NROM cells.
 15. The memory structure of claim 14 further comprising a power supply that couples to the y-decoder for supplying a voltage to the plurality of metal bit lines. 